SetupCast defaults to a name of "NewProject".
For your test project type in the name FirstProject (don't worry about the file extension), then click Save.
SetupCast will create a new blank SetupCast project and open to the General Settings screen of the Project Profile as shown here:
Since your project is not SetupBuilder related be sure that you do NOT check this box:
Note: When this box is unchecked, all of the SetupBuilder related prompts are hidden so that they don't interfere with your decisions or confuse you with SetupBuilder only related items.
Shared Information
Data entered in the "Shared Information" group is automatically used for each type of installer. There is an option to override this in each installer's General Settings screen if needed.
Product Name - When you create a new project SetupCast will use the project filename as the default Product Name. You can change that as needed.
Release Version - Enter a version number for your product
Release Date - Enter a release date (or select one using the lookup button)
Publishing Installer Files
SetupCast has the ability to publish the actual files for your installers as well as the content that it generates. To enable this feature check the box on this screen and the same setting will be enabled by default for each content type selected. You can also leave this box unchecked and selectively enable it on a "per installer type" basis.
To configure SetupCast so that it publishes the installer files along with the generated content later in this Quick Help Guide, check this box.
Selecting Content
SetupCast controls what sets of content are generated based on your selection in this group.
For your first project keep it simple and select the Full Install Download Instructions box. This is how you tell SetupCast that you have a "Full Installer" type of distribution for your software.
Adding Release Notes
Release Notes are a way for you to enter information that the end user can read on your website before downloading the installer or running the web update.
Note: We plan to add a new type of SetupCast content for publishing called "Version History" in a later release that will automate the creation and publishing of changes and feature additions. This will be published as a separate form of generated content from the release notes.
When you click the Release Notes sidebar menu option SetupCast displays this screen where you can manage shared release notes as shown here:
Note: The release notes that you enter in the Project Profile are "Shared Information". This means that they will be the same release notes that are displayed with each different installer type for this project. You do have the ability to override the release notes for any installer type and enter different or additional information there if needed.
What do you do next?
The next step of creating your new SetupCast project is to review the data gathered for each installer type and preview the generated content. SetupCast has a "Live Preview" so you can see exactly what the generated content will look like before you publish it.
Remember that the "First Project" project in this example only has one installer type - Full Installation.
In a project with multiple installer types or with additional generated content (such as a RSS feed), a separate menu option is displayed for each item.
Reviewing Specific Generated Content
Since a Full Installation was selected in the Project Profile, a new menu option for it appears below the Project Profile menu.
Next, setup the Full Installer Specific Details for non-SetupBuilder users.
Note: There are other menu selections in the Project Profile but they are outside the scope of this part of the tutorial. Some will be discussed in the section on publishing your project, the others are covered in the main help file.